A recent $2 million donation by Northwest Farm Credit Services will benefit students, bees, wine and multiple agricultural research and outreach programs, according to a news release from Washington State University.

“WSU is proud to partner with Northwest Farm Credit Services in a shared commitment to advance the teaching, research and applied outreach with the agriculture industry that benefits each of us every day,” WSU President Kirk Schulz said in the release. 

WSU programs supported by the NWFCS donation include:

—Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center: $525,000.

—Viticulture and Enology Wine Science Center teaching labs: $300,000.

— Honey Bee and Pollinator Research, Extension, and Education Facility

startup funding: $500,000.

—Irrigated and dryland farm research and extension centers: $400,000.

—Dairy science program: $150,000.

—WSU 4-H program: $100,000.

—Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences student organization (MANRRS): $25,000.

“As part of Northwest Farm Credit’s stewardship commitment to improve the lives of our customers, communities, and industries we serve, we are investing funds in education and research across the Northwest,” Josh Siler, Washington president for Northwest Farm Credit Services, said in the release. “WSU’s agricultural programs are making an impact through research initiatives and educating the next generation of agriculture.”

With these funds, both the viticulture and enology program and the bee facility will be able to complete long-term projects, and MANRRS will establish a club endowment that will generate funding in perpetuity, according to the release.

“We are thrilled with the support for our students, our research and our facilities,” André-Denis Wright, dean of WSU’s College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resource Sciences, said in the release. “Our long-term partnership with Northwest Farm Credit Services is so important to us. Their dedication to the future of the agriculture industry in Washington and around the Pacific Northwest will have impacts for years to come.”

—by Jonelle Mejica